Incident Name: Work Capacity Test
Date: 7/24/2013, 0855
Personnel: Danny A Gomez
Age: 53
Agency/Organization: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Northern Pueblos Agency, Ohkay Owingeh
Position: firefighter
Summary: While conducting the Work Capacity Test (WCT) at Northern Pueblos Agency in Ohkay Owingeh, NM, one individual collapsed while participating in the Work Capacity Test. Emergency Medical Personnel on scene monitoring WCT participants, immediately initiated CPR and other lifesaving protocol with assistance from Agency Staff. The patient was transported to the Espanola Hospital four miles away, where he was pronounced deceased.
Maps
Northern Pueblos Agency, Ohkay Owingeh, NM (additional location info: Approximate incident location: U.S. National Grid: 3S DV 0575 8323)
{mosmap lat=’36.052747’|lon=’-106.070591’|marker=’0’|text=’Northern Pueblos Agency, Ohkay Owingeh, NM’}
Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- Bureau of Indian Affairs: 24-hr Report (31 K pdf)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs: 72-hr Report (127 K pdf)LOCATION: Northern Pueblos Agency, Espanola, NM
DATE OF OCCURRENCE: July 24, 2013
TIME OF OCCURRENCE: Approximately 0855 hours
ACTIVITY: Work Capacity Test
NUMBER & TYPE OF INJURY: One fatality
PRELIMINARY FACT FINDINGS: At approximately 39 minutes into a Work Capacity Test (WCT) an individual who was part of the “militia” assigned to the Northern Pueblos Agency (NPA) collapsed within 400 yards from completion of the WCT.
The WCT was conducted on a .75 mile flat dirt oval track which was located behind the NPA office. A local contract ambulance and EMS personnel were assigned to assist with medical support for the WCT. The ambulance was stationed in the middle of the oval and was instructed to follow the participants on the last half of the final lap.
The ambulance was less than 20 yards behind the participants when the individual collapsed, emergency procedures were initiated in less than one minute following the incident. The victim was transported to the local hospital approximately four miles away and pronounced deceased on arrival.
A Critical Incident Stress Management Team (CISM) has been ordered, and a Serious Accident Investigation (SAI) Team is in place.
Wildlandfire.com Links:
Media Articles and Reports
Photos, Videos, & Tributes
- Danny Gomez’s ObituaryDanny A. Gomez, 53, a resident of Española, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, July 24, 2013. He was preceded in death by his mother, Eliza Gomez; brother, Ricky Gomez; sister, Yvonne Vigil; uncle, Lalo Gomez and grandmother, Guadalupe Gomez.
Danny was employed with the Bureau of Indian Affairs as a forestry supervisor at the time of his death; he had an active involvement fighting fires, feeding the homeless and a passion for health and fitness. He had numerous friends and was an all around good guy who did things the way life should be. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.
Gomez is survived by his wife of 13 years, Deanna Gomez; daughter, Danielle Gomez; sons, Jon Bjork and girlfriend, Kali Smith, and Tyler Bjork; sister, Charli E. Williams and husband, Michael; nephew, Storm Williams; niece, Leona Chavez; great-nephew, Andrew Moore; great-niece, Shaylee Moore; in-laws, David and Donna Myers; brother-in-law, David Myers and wife, Nikora, and their children, Kelly and Luke Myers and wife, Beth, and their child, Easton.
A public visitation was held from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral & Crematory. A devotional service followed at 4 p.m. The family of Danny Gomez has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.
- Northern Pueblos Agency website
- Wikipedia: Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico
- USFA Memorial Database: Daniel Gomez
- Smoke Signals publication: In memory of Danny Gomez (2,062 K pdf) ; alternatively, you can download it from this Always Remember site (2,062 K pdf)
Contributors to this article:
Please support the Wildland Firefighter Foundation
